Oh No

After being diagnosed by my OBGYN , the first specialist I went to completely misread my CAT scan of the abdomen and didn't read my biopsy report before seeing me. When I met with him he called me by the wrong name. He continued to lecture me about why he should do my surgery and how he could do it minimally invasive and he only needed to take the uterus and not do a complete hysterectomy. My daughter at that time was a nurse on a very specialized cancer floor, she helped me understand the CAT scan and biopsy results and how serious this was before going to this specialist so I knew I needed a complete open abdominal hysterectomy and more. I told him I was going for a second opinion and he berated me, telling me that he trained with the doctor that I was going to next for my second opinion. So basically I ran as fast as I could from this doctor. This was not the best way to start the journey. Consequently I did not go back to him.

Procedure or Surgery

I was diagnosed with high grade (3) uterine papillary serous carcinoma and had surgery 12/10. I was in the hospital over the New Years holiday, 4 day hospitalization. Prior to surgery I had to have a complete PET scan and other tests. Surgery consisted of removal of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, multiple abdominal lymph nodes and salpingo-oophorectomy. Thankfully after the biopsy of everything removed I was diagnosed at stage 1. This is a rare and more aggressive cancer with lower survival rate so the stage 1 diagnosis was a blessing.

Radiation

Due to the aggressiveness of this cancer it was determined I would be best to have both chemo and radiation. I went for radiation first, and had brachytherapy (internal high dose) radiation consisting of 10 minutes of treatment with radiation for the first treatment. I had two more doses, the second one for ten minutes and the third one for 11. I went every other week between my chemotherapy treatments. The treatments were finished March 2011 and I still have active irritation which gets worse after each exam I have at the doctors office and after using a dilator.. As I alternated between radiation and chemotherapy my white blood cell count, platelets and red blood cell counts dropped dramatically and I did have blood transfusions. I was too weak. The transfusions definitely helped but were painful. I don't tolerate cold well, I think that was why I felt I was in so much pain.

Drug or Chemo Therapy

I had two chemo drugs, carboplatin and taxol. I had three doses three weeks apart. I had them in the outpatient area of the hospital. Due to the pre-drugs I was given I was extremely lucky not to have nausea. I did experience bowel issues and had neuropathy, which has not totally cleared up. I believe each treatment lasted about 4 hours.

Celebration

I have been in remission for 17 months now, and after the two year mark for this cancer I plan to celebrate well!!!!! I am still going in every three months for blood work and pap smears until the 2 year mark, then can go every six months until 5 years